Adjustable tap and die



ADJUSTABLE TAP AND DIE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 11. I92l.

DOWD.

Patented Sept. 19, 1922;

Patented Sept. 1%, was.

unites stares earner caries.

THOMAS J. DOWD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ADJUSTABLE TAP AND DIE.

Application filed April 11, 1921. Serial No. 460,154.

Taps and Dies; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,-clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame. I

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in adjustable tapsand dies and has for its primary object the provision of means wherebyscrew threads may be easily and accurately formed internally orexternally on a pipe or other hollow element.

Another object of this invention is the provision of means for adjustingthe internal to permit use ofthe, device on pipes of differentdiameters.

A further object of this invention is the provision of the externalthread cutting elements forming an adjustable connection between theinternal thread cutting elements and the holder and which permitapproximate adjustmentof the internal thread cutting elements to a pipeof a certain diameter. I

A further object of this invention is the provision of anadjustableexpander whereby the internal thread cutting elements are heldagainst collapsing .and also permits adjustment of the latter to thewall of a ipe as desired.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of anadjustable tap and die of the above stated character which will besimple, durable and eflicient, and which may be manufactured and sold ata comparatively low cost.

With these and other objects in view as will become more apparent as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as will be.

hereinafter more fully described and cla1med. a

For a complete understanding of my 1nvention, reference isto' he had tothe follow-' ing description and accompanying drawings, in which JFigure 1 is a top plan view illustrating an adjustable tap and dieconstructed in am cordance with my invention,

and external thread cutting elements Figure 2 is a side elevationillustrating the same,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the expander in theact of supporting theinternal thread cutting elements,

Figure 4.- is a sectional view taken on the line &--4 of Figure 3, I

v Figure 5 is a side elevation illustrating the expander,

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the device adjustedfor external work.

Figure 7 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating the device,and

Figure 8 is a longitudinal sectional view illustrating the device.

Referring in detail .to' the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a holderor block having a central bore 2 and radially extending slots 3 whichopen outwardly through the outer face of the holder 1 and alsocommunicate withthe bore 2. The slots'3 slidably re-v ceive die orexternal thread cutting elements at and are retained in'said slots bymeans of set screws 5 which permit said elements to be adjusted inwardlyand outwardly of said slots as desired. One of the ends of the elementselhave formed thereonthread cutting faces (3 while their other ends areprovided with openings 7 and the walls of said openings are arrangedangularly in respect to'each other so as to prevent rotation of tape orinternal thread cutting elements 8. Stems 9 are formed on-the elements 8and have angularly related walls to cooperate with the walls of theopenings 7 when inserted in said openings for the purpose of preventingrotation of the elements 8 rel ative to the elements at or the holder 1du1- ing the use of the tool. The outer faces of the elements 8 haveformed thereon thread cutting teeth 10 adapted when in engagement withthe internal wall of apipe or the like to out or form screw threadsthereon.

The elements 8 are taperedtransversely towards their inner faces fromtheir outer faces and received by dove-tailed grooves 11 of an expander12. The expander 12 consists. of an internally screw threadedbody 13onwhich are formed resilient fingers 14c adapted to expand said fingers\vhenthreaded towards the body 13 for the purposeot forcing the elements8 into engagement with i the interior wall of a pipe and to regulate athe pressure of said elements against the threaded extension 17 which ispipe and consequently vary the depth of the screw threads formed on thewall-of the pipe by said elements 8. The set screw 16 its inner end isprovided with a reduced screw adapted to be received by the screwthreaded bore of the body 13 when said adjusting screw has been fullyadjusted or moved inwardly towards said body. The fingers 141- of theexpander 12 are adapted to assume their normal positions when the setscrew '16 is threaded in an outward direction consequently permittingthe elements 8 to move 111 the direction 7 of each other.

' diameter of the pipe whichis to be threaded by adjusting the elements4 in the holder I 1 and the adjustment of the adjusting screw 16 in theexpander. The holder with the ends of the thread cutting elements 8 incontact with the pipe is rotated with a slight pressure thereon andsufficient to advance the threadcutting elements 8 into the pipe as thescrew threads are formed on the internal wall thereof. To facilitate therotation of the body 1, handles 18 are provided which may be formedintegrally with the body or if desired detachably secured to the latterin any suitable manner. The expander 12 if desired may be constructed ofsuch a length as to support the thread cutting elements8 substantiallythroughout their entire length.

To use the device'as a die, the thread cutting elements 8 are removedand the elements 41 are positioned in the holder 1 as shown in Figure 6with tl1eir.cutting faces ,6 in opposing relation, The, elements 4 maybe adjusted in the slots of the body 1 to position the thread cuttingfaces 6 against the outer walls of pipes of difi'erentdiameters. Withtheelements 1- properly adjusted for operation on a pipe of a'cert'aindiameter holder 1 through the medium of the handles 18 and with aReferring to my modified form of invention', the fingers 14 arebifurcated as shown at 20 from their free ends towards their atthreadcutting I I 2. An adjustable tap and die comprising and by rotating theslight pressure thereon, screw: threads are formed on said pipe.

is constructed on a large scale for operation The expander extends thefull length of the internal thread cutting elements 8 and the bodythereof has lugs :22 which fit into notches 23 formed inthe wall of theopening of the holder 1 to cause the expander to.

turn with the holder and thereby support the cutting elements throughouttheir entire lengths and cause them to move with the holder without anydanger of twisting.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it.

willbe understood that minor changes. in construction, combination, andarrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of the invention:

as claimed. Havin claim is:- 1

1. An adjustable tap and die comprising a holder,.internal and externalthread cutting element's said external thread cutting elements formingthe connection between the internal elements and the holder.

a holder, die cutters adjustably and detachably secured to'the carriedby said die cutters.

ing therewith, members detachably and ad; justably secured in said slotsand entering said bore, thread cutting teethcarriedby one of the ends ofsaid members, and tap cutters carried by the other ends ofsaid membersand capable of being detached therefrom. I

g thus described my invention what carried by said holder and body, andtap cutters adjustably and detachably;

.10 0 3. An adjustable tap and die comprising 5. An adjustable tap anddie comprising a holder having a-bore and slots in communicationtherewith, 'members adj ustably and detachably mounted in said slots andhaving formedon one of their ends faces, tap cutters detachably securedto the other ends of said members and an expander for said tap cutters.

6. An adjustable tap and a holder having a bore and slotscommunicatingtherewith, members adjustably and detachably mounted insaid slots and have die comprising thread cutting I ing at one of theirends thread cutting faces and their other ends provided with openingswith angularly related walls, tap cutters, stems formed on said tapcutters and having angularly related walls and received by saidopenings, and means for expanding and con-- tracting the tap cutters.

7 An adjustable tap and die comprising a holder having a bore and slotsin communication therewith, members adjustably and detachably mounted insaid slots and having thread cutting faces at one of their ends, tapcutters detachably secured to the other ends of said members, a bodyhaving grooves receiving said tap cutters, resilient fingers carried bysaid body and spaced to receive the tap cutters, and means for expandingsaid fingers and tap cutters.

8. An adjustable tap and die comprising a holder having a bore and slotsin communication therewith, members adjustably and detachably mounted insaid slots and having thread cutting faces at one of their ends, tapcutters detachably secured to the other ends of said members and havingtapered side faces, a body having clove-tailed grooves receiving saidtap cutters, resilient fingers formed on said body and relatively spacedand having their side walls in alinement with the walls of said groovesand beveled towards their inner faces to receive the tap cutters, screwthreads formed on the inner faces of said fingers, and a wedge-shapedadjusting screw threaded in said fingers for expanding the latter andfor moving the tap cutters to fit pipes of difi'erent internaldiameters.

9. An adjustable tap and die comprising a holder, die cutters adjustablymounted on said holder, tap cutters carried by the die cutters, anexpander body having grooves to receive the tap cutters, bifurcatedfingers formed on said body and receiving the tap cutters therebetween,an adjusting screw threaded to and between said fingers and engaging thetap cutters for forcing the latter outwardly, and set screws forexpanding the bifurcated portions of the fingers against the tapcutters.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of a witness.

THOMAS J. DOWD. Witness:

BENNE'I'I S. JoNEs.

